The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-26
ANNEXATION OF CANADA.
THE VIEWS OF PROMINENT cANAoI-
ANS ON THE SUBJECT.


An Admission that Commercial Union
Means Ultimate Annexation--The Rea-
sons for Closer Union with the United
I states--The Governments Policy.
New YoRK, May 25.-The World this
morning publishes an article covering two
columns and a quarter containing the
views OF prominent Canadians on the ques-
tion of tie annexation of Canada. After a
review Of the history of the country and
brief sketch Of the composition of the popu-
lation of Canada, the correspondent says
that many men with whom he talked admit
privatel,- that commercial union meant ulti-
mate annexation, but shrunk from being
quoted on the subject. The farmers, who
form big share of the voting population,
are most outspoSen, and are, so far as the
correspondent could learn, almost unanimous
in demanding commercial union, and good
many q them are not afraid to look the
probable consequence in the face.
In conversation had with open annexa-
ionists and others who are alleged to be an
nexationists in disguise, the reasons that ex-
lists from a Canadian standpoint for at least
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forcibly and exhaustively set forth. They
are surlvned up briefly as arising from the
fact that Canada is in a state OF stagnation.
The policy that the government has at
etmpted to carry out has proven a failure,
and the country Is heavily burdened with
debt. It's geographical location makes free
commu1. cation and alliance with the United
States the most natural thing in the world.
Large bodies Of people In some of the pro-
vinces have been for years crying for annex
alton, and the cry is being extended as the
foolishness Of being shut out from prosperity
by an arbitrary and imaginary line becomes
more generally understood The article next
reviews The design in the confederation Of
the provinces in 1857, and sets forth that it
was for the purpose of forcing trade from
one to the other, and with this end in view
$50, 600 900 were spent in erecting the Inter
Colonial g. Canadian Pacific railroads. In
1879 tariff was put on for a similar pur
pose, but this came to naught. One Of the
causes is that the Dominion being in one
zone does not possess the various climates
and productions Of the United States and it
Is simply cause of swapping iack-knives,
A tax put upon the iron Of Nova Scotia inn
mediately strikes the consumer in Ontario
where there is il on but no coal, and the con-
sumer in the northwest where there Is
neither coal nor iron.
The provinces have to be continually
bribed with subsidies to behave themselves.
TIE provinces draw so much per head from
the Dominion treasury, and the result is that
knowing they have the vaults in Ottawa to
fall back on launch out in all sorts Of ex-
travagance, and when they become indebted
demand large subsidies This has helped to pile
up the debt and the National debt, together
with those Of the provinces, now amount to
$500, 900, 900 for population of 100000.
The great province of Ontario has nothing
at all, and her constant complaint is that
she is the COW from which all the other are
sucking, and her discomfort because of this
the reason for the feeling which is gaining
ground that annexation might not be bad
thing,
The farmers are generally dissatisfied be-
cause the railroad rates will not permit the
carrying of their products to any point
where it will pay them. They say the oblit-
GRAFTON Of the dividing line would enable
them to ship their barley, which is now
shipped TO the United States, without having
to pay duty The lumber men complain that
the present duty closes the United States
market to them. These are among the prin-
In Nova Scotia the dissatisfaction Is very
pronounced. She has to buy herwheat from
Ontario at much higher rates than it could
be obtained from the United States but for
the heavy tariff. Nova Scotia, Prince Ed
wards Island and New Brunswick have no
market for their goods, and for a long time
past the question of annexation has been
agitated by them. They believe that the
natural draft Of trade Is between them and
the United States.
To sum up the whole situation, the World
correspondent says that there is an intense
feeling Of discomfort throughout the Domin-
ion, and that its door is ajar for the peace
full invasion of Canada; that the probabili-
ties are it will not be long before it is
thrown wide open.
The article concludes with review Of the
history of the Canadian Pacific road and the
purposes for which it was built. The fail
ure Of the endeavors of the government to
induce emigration TO the northwest and the
reasons therefor, among which are: The
climate, lack Of railroad competition, and
the high rates for bringing wheat to the sea-
board from that territory as compared with
those of the United States.
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